The Texan’s Tesla stayed charging in a hotel parking structure while Perry tried to charge up California’s state lawmakers about the party’s future in a brief meeting.

“Focusing on the economy, jobs, education, things that have worked well for him in Texas, continuing those messages here,” said Assemblyman Jeff Gorell (R-Ventura). “It was a little bit of a pep talk, I think he also was using it as an opportunity to get out and meet people as he kind of tests the waters possibly for 2016.”

California Gov. Jerry Brown’s spokesman sent this statement in response to Perry’s criticism of the state’s economic climate: “No other state added more jobs than CA in 2013 and last month, the state added another 56K+ jobs.”